Petite Potatoes

Most kids like potatoes in one form or another (french fries, anyone?) but many are picky when it comes to eating a whole potato. And therein lies the genius of teeny little potatoes.

These bite-sized potatoes (from The Little Potato Company, by way of Frieda’s Produce) are incredibly kid-friendly. For starters, they’re very easy to prepare. There’s no washing or peeling required, and if you microwave them they can be ready in as little as five minutes. They’re super-tasty (think slightly sweet and nutty) and nutritious. And of course they’re just so darned cute. What kid wouldn’t at least want to hold them, look at them, and take a nibble?

Frieda’s generously sent us some to try out on the kids, so we road-tested these potatoes while on a camping trip with a few other families. Believe it or not, as the hot dogs and tri-tip cooked on the grill, it was the potatoes that the kids were most curious and eager about. “Are the potatoes ready yet?” “I want some potatoes!” “Save some potatoes for me!”

We cooked these Piccolo potatoes by putting them directly on the grill for about 3 minutes on each side; then we put them in a foil pan and let them cook slowly for another 30 minutes.

Once we were home from our camping trip, we rustled up a second batch of potatoes, this time with the three-color variety. We halved them, tossed them with olive oil, onions, and rosemary, and then roasted them for about an hour at 350 degrees. And again – a curiously enthusiastic kid reaction. Believe it or not, we found our seven-year-old rummaging through the refrigerator the next day: “Do we have any more of those potatoes?”

These little cuties are sold in Baby Boomer, Piccolo, Blushing Belle, and Terrific Trio varieties. You can find them in one-and-a-half-pound bags at Ralph’s and Ralph’s Fresh Fare stores throughout Southern California.